HONG KONG: A friend who lives there writes:

Just returned from voting for my District Councillor.
(Voting for District Council doesn’t really amount to much – their job is about garbage pickup, etc. – but this is an opportunity for people to have their voices be heard, albeit at a minimal level).

In every other election, I have gone in the afternoon and there are maybe 3 or 4 people in line.
I show up just after 8 am this morning and the line goes out the room – a least 100 deep.
I see a building neighbour, a fellow Foreign Correspondent Club member, a Chinese International School parent / friend, and C H Tung (first Chief Executive).
(I was tempted to go to CH Tung and say, “this voting concept seems to be pretty popular” – but I refrained).

I asked if it is alway this crowded in the morning as I usually vote in the afternoon.
About 5 people all chirped up saying basically, “Oh no, not at all. I think we all know how we feel about the matter”.

And the line was longer when I left than when I arrived.

Maybe I’m wrong, but I suspect that the pro-Government candidates are going to lose quite badly in most parts of Hong Kong today.
People are mad and want their voices heard – not dismissed.

Just my “on the ground” observations.

Good to know.